Three hospitalized after East Central house fire

A house fire in East Central Spokane sent three people to the hospital Wednesday morning.

The fire started in a house at 4th Avenue and Magnolia Street just after 1:30 a.m.

Firefighters were heading to the house for a medical call, but when they arrived, firefighters could see flames inside. The crew called for backup.

Three adults were already outside the house when firefighters arrived, but as soon as an ambulance got on scene, all three were taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation.

Dave Haworth, a Spokane fire battalion chief, said he doesn't know what condition the people were in.

Firefighters said the fire started in a back bedroom and crews were able to keep it contained to that room. Once backup arrived, the fire was quickly extinguished. Fire damage is limited to the back bedroom, but there is smoke damage throughout the house.

Winter conditions make it hard to fight even the simplest fires.

"We are using water, so we have icing issues," said Haworth. "Crews are going in, getting hot and sweaty and wet, then coming out in the freezing temperatures."

An investigator arrived around 4 a.m., to determine the cause of the fire.